A Changed Life, Proof of Our Salvation.

     We have seen that a person who practices sin is a lawless person, one who has cast off restraint (1 John 3:4). They show by their actions that they actually hate God (Romans 8:7).
     John tells us that Jesus came to take away sins (1 John 3:5), and to destroy the devil's works (1 John 3:8). His purpose was to break the hold that sin has upon the life of a lost, selfish individual (John 8:36).
     Therefore, one who abides in Christ, that is lives in trusting, obedient, submission to Him and His words, will not live a sinful lifestyle anymore (1 John 3:6). They have been set free from sins power over their lives. They now live to please Jesus their Lord in all they say and do.
     Do not be deceived by those who say a Christian can be saved and live a sinful life at the same time. One who practices righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:7). The one who practices sin has not been changed by the power and grace of God through Jesus, and is in fact A CHILD OF THE DEVIL (1 John 3:8; John 8:44).
     God's seed now dwells within the true believer. The law of God has been written upon His heart, a provision of the new covenant (Hebrews 10:16; 1 John 3:9). The true born again child of God does not walk in sin because of the redemptive work of Christ on his behalf. True grace teaches us to forsake our sin and to live sensible, upright lives (Titus 2:11-13).
     This is not to say that it is impossible for a Christian to fall into sin. A Christian may be overtaken in a fault (Gal 6:1), and brought back to restoration. John writes to us so that we do not sin, but if we do we have an advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2). John is speaking of sin being the exception in the believers life, not the rule. He goes on to say that a saved individual will keep the commandments of Christ (1 John 2:2-6). A born again follower of Jesus lives with the purpose of obeying Christ. They do not seek to hold on to any sin, and if they should fall, they confess it and repent. They grieve because they have offended their God. They do not seek to see how close they can get to sin without losing their salvation. That is a selfish attitude that proves one has no desire to please God, and is devoid of spiritual life.
     A transformed life is the proof of our salvation. Jesus has come to change sinners into saints, to totally change their lives (1 Cor 6:9-11; 2 Cor 5:17).